Category: Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

Five Beers to Try at Winterfest

By on February 25, 2016in August Schell Brewing Co., beer education, beer events, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., breweries, brewpubs, cask beer, Fulton Brewing Co., general beer, hops, Junkyard Brewery, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, misc. mn beer, MN

Winterfest2016

If you are fortunate enough to attend the 15th annual Winterfest on either Friday or Saturday, you are sure to get a taste of some of the best locally made brews. Here are some of the highlights for both nights.

Friday:

Apricot Vista from August Schell Brewing Company – The latest in the Noble Star collection was aged for a year before Jace dropped 4,800 pounds of apricots in the tank. That tank by the way is from 1936 and will be on display at Star Keller when it opens in May.

Cherry Double Shot Double Black from Bent Paddle Brewing – This Bourbon barrel-aged version of their Black Ale received an infusion of cherries along with double shots of Madagascar Vanilla and Cold-Press. Have we mentioned that the Cold-Press comes from Duluth Coffee Company? Enough said.

Cabernet Barrel-Aged Belgian Dark Strong Ale from Dangerous Man – This is one of my favorite beers that they’ve made over at their Northeast brewery. Stone fruits and sweet caramel are prominent in this complex brew that was aged for almost a year in an oak Cabernet barrel. Let this one warm up a bit in your hand a little while and you’ll be rewarded.

300 from Fulton Brewing – All that really needs to be said about this brew is that it’s one of the best locally made IPAs. Expect blueberry and tropical fruits on top of a clean Pilsner malt base. Somehow the folks at Fulton are making this happen year-round and you won’t hear me complain.

Blackberry Gose from Junkyard Brewing – This Blackberry Sour Ale looks interesting and will be a nice change of pace from all of the really big beers being poured at the festival. Gose is an ancient German style of beer that goes back 1,000 years, and is unique in that it was traditionally brewed with salty water. Junkyard is based up in Moorhead so this also serves as a grand opportunity to get an introduction to their brews without the drive.

Saturday:

Imperial Cocoa Hefe from Blacklist Brewing – Chocolate and bananas will be the theme with this German-style Hefeweizen. Blacklist has always made interesting beers and they will now be able to better showcase them in their new space located in downtown Duluth.

Imperial Raspberry Truffle from Lupulin Brewing – I was able to try this version of their Porter at an event recently and I was impressed. The name of this one sums it up, big time chocolate with loads of raspberries. Who needs dessert?

2016 Fiddle Smasher from NorthGate Brewing – NorthGate is now 3 years old and they celebrated by releasing this Scottish Wee Heavy Ale. This version will be served from a cask and it tips the scale at over 8% ABV.

Saaz Pils from Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery – Sometimes there is nothing better than a clean Bohemian style Pilsner, especially when it’s made by someone who loves them as much as Mike Hoops does. Saaz hops are known for their spicy and earthy characteristics and they are what define this style of beer. This is one of my favorite styles of beer hands down.

Gin Botanical Freewheeler from Sociable Cider Werks – This cider looks interesting on many levels. For one, this sat in Wander North Distillery’s botanical basket and also on top of a bed of fresh spruce needles. Nothing says Minnesota like evergreens and apples.

Cheers!

Congrats to Minnesota GABF Winners

By on September 27, 2015in August Schell Brewing Co., Bemidji Brewing Co., Bent Paddle Brewing Co., breweries, Fitger's Brewhouse, Fulton Brewing Co., Mankato Brewery, Steel Toe Brewing

GABFI don’t need to tell you that Minnesota brewers make some very good beer. Yesterday at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Minnesota brewers walked away with seven medals. For those of you unfamiliar with the event, The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is the country’s premiere beer festival and competition organized by the Brewers Association. Taking home a medal is a big deal. Congrats to our local winners and everyone involved in the event!

Silver medal winners:

Bronze medal winners:

See the full list of Great American Craft Beer Festival winners:

https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/winners/

Northern Lights Rare Beer Festival Saturday

By on March 26, 2015in August Schell Brewing Co., beer events, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., breweries, brewpubs, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Steel Toe Brewing

nlrbf-2015_slide-1As of last night, tickets were still available for the Northern Lights Rare Beer Festival. And though the ticket price is decidedly steep, this is a festival that should make every beer nerd get a little giddy. For the uninitiated, this festival features rare, vintage and special one-off beers from 30 select craft breweries from across the country, including 10 form Minnesota. Suffice to say that this event includes food, entertainment and more.

Five beers I’ll really f&#@ing miss because I’m working Saturday:

  • Schell’s 2013 Barrel Aged Snowstorm With Brett
  • Bent Paddle Double Shot Double Black
  • Fitger’s Brewhouse Woodford 1100 Wheatwine
  • Town Hall Nitro Tennessee Dessert
  • Steel Toe Brewing Barrel of the Blood

Download the program here.

Buy your tickets here.

Bent Paddle Cold Press Black

By on October 23, 2014in Bent Paddle Brewing Co., breweries
Photo lifted from Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

Photo lifted from Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

The first time I tasted the Cold Press variation of Bent Paddle Brewing Company’s black ale, I knew I had to have some more. Apparently I wasn’t the only one. Bent Paddle’s Bryon Tonnis says it’s been one of their most requested special offerings, “People really wanted to see this beer in cans from the first time we made it – so we did!”

Amen.

“The concept for this beer really started out as a way to vary our initial taproom offerings. When we opened a year and a half ago, we had two beers on tap and this was a way for us to explore the Black Ale recipe we had developed while offering our customers something new.” says Colin Mullen. Cold Press Black follows the same base beer recipe as Bent Paddle Black, but is infused with Duluth Coffee Company Cold Press just prior to packaging.

You should start to see Cold Press Black starting next week in 4-pack cans and in kegs.

Stats:
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 6.0%
IBU: 35
Style: Coffee Infused Black Ale
Malts: Pale, 2-Row, Golden Promise, De-husked Black Malt, Flaked Oats, C-165, C-20
Hops: CTZ, Willamette
Yeast: House Ale Strain

Congrats Minnesota GABF Winners!

By on October 7, 2014in Badger Hill Brewing, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Indeed Brewing Co., Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Steel Toe Brewing, Summit Brewing Co.

gabf_medalsThis year Minnesota breweries took home six medals from the Great American Beer Festival. The GABF, organized by the Brewers Association, is the largest commercial beer competition in the world. Winning at GABF is a tremendous honor and our local brewers should be proud of their accomplishments. This years’ results honor several first-time winners from our beer scene, which is really awesome. Congrats to all!

Gold:
Badger Hill Brewing White IPA – American-Belgo-Style Ale
Steel Toe Brewing Wee Heavy – Scotch Ale

Silver
Indeed Brewing Co. Mexican Honey – Honey Beer
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery Buffalo Bock – Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer

Bronze
Bent Paddle Brewing Co. 18° ESB – Extra Special Bitter
Summit Brewing Co. Extra Pale Ale – Classic English Style Pale Ale

Check out the complete list of winners here